The #5 ranked Georgia Bulldogs beat the #1 Texas Longhorns by a score of 30-15, putting them back in contention for the best record in college football. For the first time in 50 consecutive games, Georgia entered as the underdog, the last being the 2021 home opener against Clemson. Texas entered favored by 4.5 points, and the entire panel of College Gameday experts picked the Longhorns, but Kirby and the Dawgs handled business and silenced the doubters. 

The first quarter saw both teams trade 3-and-outs and turnovers. Both teams ended their first drives with punts, and on Georgia’s second drive Carson Beck tried to thread a ball between two defenders but was intercepted. Georgia got the ball right back, but after a long drive led by Trevor Etienne, Texas intercepted Beck again after the ball bounced off of Lawson Luckie’s hands. 

Georgia’s defense, however, dominated all night long, and their first of four turnovers came when Daylen Everette forced a sack-fumble and recovered it, giving the Dawgs good field position and a major shift in momentum. Trevor Etienne then found the end zone making it 7-0.

The defense continued to dominate, forcing a 3-and-out leaving Georgia with good field position again leading to a Peyton Woodring field goal, one of three for the kicker on the night.. Then Daylen Everette forced his second turnover of the game when he intercepted Quinn Ewers which was followed by Trevor Etienne’s second touchdown, making it 17-0. An Arch Manning cameo, two Texas punts, and three Georgia field goals finished the second quarter, putting Georgia up 23-0. Georgia dominated the first half, holding Texas to only 62 yards to Georgia’s 170.  

Finally, Texas started moving the ball in the third quarter. They drove it 55 yards, finished by an Isaiah Bond touchdown. Controversy ensued when officials overturned a pass interference call long after the play was over. The questionable call came on a Texas interception but was called back on the penalty, leading to Longhorn fans showing their frustration by throwing their water bottles and beer cans onto the field. Then, inexplicably, the refs reversed the call without a review, giving Texas the ball. Quinn Ewers then found Jaydon Blue in the end zone making it 23-15. 

But the rest was all Georgia. The offense drove 89 yards the next drive, finished by Trevor Etienne’s third and final touchdown of the night, leading to a final score of 30-15. Georgia will hang their hat on their stellar defensive play, forcing four four total turnovers and limiting Texas to 259 total yards. 

After the game, Kirby said: “I’m so proud of these guys. Nobody believed. Nobody gave us a chance. These guys are so resilient. We talked about intent. What was our intent when we walked on the field? Our intent was to eat and be hungry. What I want is a team that fights their ass off, and they did tonight.”

The Dawgs now head into a BYE week coming off their most complete performance, which they will look to continue in two weeks’ time in Jacksonville as they take on the Gators.